Opportunity Information: Apply for 11 536
Apply for 11 536
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CISE Computing Research Infrastructure" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 19, 2013 and posted on Apr 4, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Archived. Replaced by NSF 13 585.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $18,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Non profit, non academic organizations Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity titled "CISE Computing Research Infrastructure" (CRI), published as NSF 11-536, was a discretionary grant program under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate (CFDA 47.070). Its main purpose was to strengthen computing research and education by funding the creation, improvement, and operation of world-class computing research infrastructure. In practice, this meant supporting the kinds of shared resources that make modern computing research possible, such as specialized hardware, experimental platforms, advanced software environments, data resources, testbeds, and the operational capabilities needed to keep those resources reliable and useful over time. A major theme of the program was broadening access to high-quality infrastructure so that researchers and students at a wide range of institutions, including minority-serving institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions, could participate in leading-edge computing research and training rather than being limited by local resource constraints.
The CRI program offered two distinct award categories designed for different scales and audiences. Institutional Infrastructure (II) awards focused on building or upgrading computing research infrastructure that primarily serves the submitting institution and its direct collaborators. These projects were aimed at enabling top-tier research and education locally and within a defined collaboration network, for example by installing new equipment, expanding capacity, modernizing existing platforms, or otherwise enhancing infrastructure so faculty and students could pursue ambitious research agendas and hands-on educational activities. Community Infrastructure (CI) awards were oriented toward infrastructure that serves a much broader user base, extending well beyond the awardee institutions. CI projects could support planning efforts for major community resources, or the creation or enhancement of infrastructure intended to be used by widely distributed communities of researchers and educators. In other words, II awards emphasized institutional capability building, while CI awards emphasized shared, broadly accessible community platforms and resources.
From a funding and logistics standpoint, NSF anticipated making about 30 awards with an estimated total program funding level of $18,000,000. Individual awards ranged from a floor of $50,000 to a ceiling of $3,000,000, and the opportunity included a cost-sharing or matching requirement (meaning awardees were expected to contribute some portion of project costs from non-NSF sources, consistent with the solicitation rules). The opportunity was posted on April 4, 2011, with full proposal deadlines on October 25, 2011 and October 23, 2012, and then on the fourth Tuesday in October annually thereafter while active. The opportunity is now archived and was later replaced by NSF 13-585, indicating NSF updated and reissued the program under a newer solicitation.
Eligibility covered a range of U.S.-based organizations connected to research and education. Universities and colleges were eligible, including accredited two-year and four-year institutions (including community colleges) with a campus located in the United States, applying on behalf of their faculty members. Certain non-profit, non-academic organizations were also eligible, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations associated with educational or research activities. Proposers were instructed to consult the solicitation for additional eligibility details and any organizational limits. For access issues with the electronic announcement, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov), reflecting the standard federal grant submission pathway used for many NSF opportunities.
Overall, CRI was designed to be a strategic infrastructure program: it was not simply about buying equipment, but about enabling sustained, high-impact research and education in computing through well-planned infrastructure investments, while also intentionally expanding who can access those resources across the higher education landscape.
CISE Computing Research Infrastructure (CRI) - NSF 11-536: Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the NSF CISE Computing Research Infrastructure (CRI) program (NSF 11-536)?
CRI (NSF 11-536) was a discretionary funding opportunity under the National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate (CFDA 47.070). The program was designed to strengthen computing research and education by supporting the creation, improvement, and operation of world-class computing research infrastructure.
2) What kinds of projects and resources did CRI support?
CRI supported shared resources that enable modern computing research and education, including specialized hardware, experimental platforms, advanced software environments, data resources, testbeds, and the operational capabilities needed to keep those resources reliable and useful over time.
3) What was the main goal of CRI beyond purchasing equipment?
The program emphasized strategic, well-planned infrastructure investments intended to enable sustained, high-impact research and education. It was not simply an equipment-buying program; it supported infrastructure along with the operational capabilities needed to keep resources dependable and valuable to users.
4) What was the program's focus on broadening access?
A major theme of CRI was broadening access to high-quality computing research infrastructure so that researchers and students at a wide range of institutions could participate in leading-edge research and training. This included an emphasis on enabling participation by minority-serving institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions that might otherwise be constrained by local resources.
5) What were the two CRI award categories?
CRI offered two award categories: Institutional Infrastructure (II) and Community Infrastructure (CI). These categories were designed for different scales and audiences, ranging from institution-centered resources to broadly accessible community platforms.
6) What is an Institutional Infrastructure (II) award?
Institutional Infrastructure (II) awards focused on building or upgrading computing research infrastructure that primarily serves the submitting institution and its direct collaborators. These projects aimed to enable top-tier research and education locally and within a defined collaboration network.
7) What are examples of activities an II award could support?
II projects could involve installing new equipment, expanding capacity, modernizing existing platforms, or otherwise enhancing infrastructure so faculty and students could pursue ambitious research agendas and hands-on educational activities.
8) What is a Community Infrastructure (CI) award?
Community Infrastructure (CI) awards were oriented toward infrastructure intended to serve a broader user base extending well beyond the awardee institutions. CI projects could support planning efforts for major community resources or the creation or enhancement of infrastructure meant for widely distributed communities of researchers and educators.
9) How do II and CI awards differ in practical terms?
II awards emphasized institutional capability building for the submitting institution and its direct collaborators. CI awards emphasized shared, broadly accessible community platforms and resources intended for wider national or distributed use across research and education communities.
10) How many awards did NSF anticipate making under CRI?
NSF anticipated making about 30 awards under the CRI program.
11) What was the estimated total funding level for the CRI program?
The estimated total program funding level was $18,000,000.
12) What was the award size range for CRI?
Individual awards ranged from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $3,000,000.
13) Did CRI require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. The opportunity included a cost-sharing or matching requirement. That means awardees were expected to contribute some portion of project costs from non-NSF sources, consistent with the solicitation rules.
14) When was the CRI opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 4, 2011.
15) What were the CRI proposal deadlines?
Full proposal deadlines were October 25, 2011 and October 23, 2012. After that, while the program remained active, deadlines were scheduled for the fourth Tuesday in October annually.
16) Is NSF 11-536 (CRI) still open for proposals?
No. The opportunity is archived.
17) Was CRI replaced by a newer NSF solicitation?
Yes. NSF 11-536 was later replaced by NSF 13-585, indicating NSF updated and reissued the program under a newer solicitation.
18) Who was eligible to apply for CRI funding?
Eligibility included a range of U.S.-based organizations connected to research and education. Universities and colleges were eligible, including accredited two-year and four-year institutions (including community colleges) with a campus located in the United States, applying on behalf of their faculty members.
19) Were non-academic organizations eligible?
Yes. Certain non-profit, non-academic organizations were eligible, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations associated with educational or research activities.
20) Are there any additional eligibility rules or organizational limits?
Proposers were instructed to consult the solicitation for additional eligibility details and any organizational limits.
21) What directorate and federal assistance listing was CRI associated with?
CRI was under NSF's Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate and was associated with CFDA 47.070.
22) What submission pathway was referenced for applicants?
The opportunity referenced the standard federal grant submission pathway used for many NSF opportunities, including support via Grants.gov for access issues related to the electronic announcement.
23) Where were applicants directed for help with access issues related to the electronic announcement?
For access issues, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
24) What types of institutions did CRI especially aim to include in leading-edge computing research and training?
CRI especially aimed to broaden participation so that institutions such as minority-serving institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions could access high-quality infrastructure and participate in advanced research and training rather than being limited by local constraints.
25) What operational aspects did CRI consider important for funded infrastructure?
CRI recognized that infrastructure needs to remain reliable and useful over time, so it supported not only the creation or enhancement of resources but also the operational capabilities needed to maintain and operate them effectively.
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